Adding colour to a black and white theme using bleeding tissue paper on canvas technique

Today I am going to show you how my daughter and I collaborated together to add some colour to a black and white theme.

So in my last post we redecorated our living room leaving us with cool and casual picture ledges to display our treasures.

Now we just wanted to add some bright colourful pictures to contrast the black and white ones. I remembered seeing this pin of the Fiskars ideas section of their site. It was a bleeding tissue paper canvas. So we decided to give it a try. The first thing I learnt was you need bleeding tissue paper for this as opposed to regular tissue paper for wrapping presents. I got some relatively cheap on ebay. There is a ton in the pack! I'm gonna have this for ages!

Here is what we did:

1. Paint water onto your canvas

2. Place tissue paper on canvas

3. Leave to dry

4. Pull off the tissue paper

( for a more watercolour/blended look brush more water over the top of paper.)

 We made a couple canvases. I cut more precise straight strips and put them around the edges of the canvas like a frame. Scarlett placed them randomly around the canvas. Both gave a cool, tie dye, blended look. Perfect for the colour we needed!

Then we printed out a picture of a pug , cut it out, and mod podged it onto the canvas Scarlett did. Then she went over it with gelatos. Adding a sunny sky up top and intensified some of the colours.

I rummaged through my stash and found some old vintage script looking paper and cut out three different heart shapes of different sizes. i tried to cut them a bit wonky. I mod podged them on the canvas with the bright tissue frame and went around the edge with a black stabilo pencil.  then I went around what I just drew and kind of smudged it with my fingers. It just gives it a bit of interest and depth.

I'm really happy with how both of them turned out. They are exactly what we need to add to our black and white themed picture ledge, and best of all they were created by both Scarlett and I.

Cant wait to make more things with this bleeding tissue paper technique. That's a good thing since I have loads of it now! (seriously,..loads.) Thanks for checking my page out today. Ill be back soon with some ATCs I'm making for a swap on the Stampotique facebook page. Till then, take care!

                                             Always, -Kass

Kids project: Bubblewrap art canvas

My mom (like most grandparents) loves getting pictures and pieces of art. So this mothers day that's what I decided we should do for her. We should make her a canvas to hang in her new lanai. A lot of people in Florida have lanais off the back of their house. Up in Chicago we would call them a back porch, in England we say conservatory. Lanai just sounds more tropical and everything is more tropical in Florida. Plus there is a pool in theirs so that's helps the tropical feel as well. My mom told me they were going with "key west colours" to decorate the area. When I think Key west colours I just think bright, tropical, sea inspired.

Well our canvas isn't really sea inspired but we tried to make it bright and colour complimentary. Before I go any further can I just say yes, Scarlett sat on top of my work space for this project and No, I don't recommend it for messiness and health and safety reasons.  She was under my supervision this entire project. What can i say? Shes a monkey.

Firstly just get colour down on the canvas. We used Faber Castell gelatos because they are so fun to use and have loads of colours to choose from. You can use whatever you have. Oil pastels work great, or acrylic paint if its all you have. Try and use something that will allow you to blend the colours nicely. So we scribbled the gelatos roughly all over the canvas where we wanted them

 and blended them together using our fingers.

Next we chose a contrasting dark paint colour and painted all over the bubble wrap generously but at the same time trying to not fill in the gaps between holes too much.

Then for the moment of truth. Put the bubble wrap paint side down on canvas and start printing. You just have to sort of go for it and have some faith. If you think about this part to much you will just hinder your creative process. Its better to just go for it and work with what you get. Its not suppose to look perfect.

Then Scarlett used the lid to a recycled jar to create circles to add to the composition.We used a orange transparent paint for this. Using transparent paint allows you to see the layers underneath creating a bit more depth.

Whilst I set that aside for drying I had Scarlett draw, cut out, and colour in some pictures.

 We raided my paper stash and found some long scraps to use as flower stems. Then I glued them on using mod podge gloss sealer.

After that had all dried we painted a ground using blue paint ( yes a blue ground. why not? maybe its the ocean. a big ocean with flowers coming out. wheres your sense of whimsy?) I then went all around the outside edge of the canvas with a lime green colour paint.

After it dries its ready to hang up and enjoy, or send off to a distant loved one. This is a project using basic layering and printing techniques so give your little one an applause when your finished making this. He/she is well on their way to becoming a brilliant artist!

Thanks for reading and have a great day.x
                                                                                         Always, -Kass

Low cost creative ideas for kids: Featuring: Sarah from "Kippers and Curtains" blog

Hi guys,I hope your all well.  Today I'm talking about small, inexpensive ways to bring more creativity into your child's life. I really cannot go on enough about the importance of nurturing a child's creativity.. It could be as full on as a big art project with paints and glues to a simple rhyming poem, or song. There are opportunities to be creative all around us if you think about it.

 Now, what if you have a large family , are on a tight budget , or both?

Enter Kippers and Curtains, , a lifestyle blog about raising a family on a shoestring budget. There you will find all kinds of fun ideas for projects, days out, decor and fashion. Its written by the lovely Sarah, who I got the chance to sit down with and ask a few questions. I asked her how she felt creativity plays a role in parenthood, and got to pick her brain on some ideas on fun without breaking the bank.

(all the following images are taken from the Kippers and Curtains blog and Anarchy Photography)

So go grab a cuppa, sit down and read on:

Q: Sarah, if you had to give your life a job title what would it be?
A: Okay this is a bit whimsical but I would be "Sarah the bringer of joy" I just try and make people happy. I am usually a "yes" person and am usually doing something for someone. I'm a wife to be, and a mum of three, a part time editorial assistant to the local newspaper, and a hobby blogger!

Q: How do you feel creativity plays a role in parenting?
A: I think its great to be a creative parent. Before the kids came along our flat was immaculate. I soon realised to keep the kids entertained, it usually involves some sort of mess. They are definitely happiest when drawing, making and building things. And I have learnt to except the mess that comes along with it!

Q: What kinds of ways to you inject creativity into play?
A: Well, I have a cupboard full of goodies ready for the kids to use as they please. They love building dens indoors, like most kids. They have even been know to empty the cupboard under the stairs so they can pretend to be Harry Potter. I love pintrest and get lots of creative ideas from there. We have recently tried two techniques for marbling with household goods. The one was using nail varnish and water, the other using shaving cream and acrylic paints. We also tried a few experiments using food colouring, oil and water in a jar-which creates a really cool effect.

Q:What kinds of places do you look for on a days out?
A:We are a family of five so don't usually have a lot of money to spend on days out. That's why we tend to go to the woods. There are plenty local to enjoy. Most have rope swings, and big climbing trees. We look for mushrooms, we call it "shrooming", We all enjoy it and it gives the kids a chance to get some fresh air. We love Groombridge place in Tunbridge wells. They have great themed days with loads of kiddie activities, old gypsy waggons, and a giant tree swing in the woods. We also love the beach , picking up rocks and shells and looking for sea creatures.

Q:What materials do you look for most often ?
A: Whilst I'm out walking I always pick up bits of wood, and feathers, and sticks as they come in useful for projects. I love chalk paints, acrylic paints, and gold wax. At the moment I really enjoy using my chalk pens. Ive also just ordered some sari ribbon and sari yarn.We have a drawer full of pencils, glitter, and crayons too!

Q:Where do you source your materials?
A: If its woods I walk around local parks to see what I can find. Ive also spoken to the local timber yard who have allowed me to take any scrap wood.  I buy a lot of acrylic paints from the works, they have inexpensive paint that is good quality. They also have good selection of pastels and embellishments. I buy chalk pens off ebay and I like to look in the store Tiger for pens, ribbons, and glue. For my wooden signs I prefer to use chalk paint. I get it at a local store called Smile at home. I'm planning to make my own soon though as it can be quite expensive.

Q: Are you working on anything at the moment?
A: I'm always working on something.I have just learnt how to make honeycomb balls out of tissue paper.  I'm also making wooden signs for my upcoming wedding, and am going to make some bunting out of burlap and lace. I'm hoping to learn this week, with a little help, to make a flower crown. Most of our recent activities have to do with wedding prep. I still have loads of ideas to keep the kids entertained though. I recently saw a tutorial on making a kaleidoscope using household junk which I'm planning on making soon.

That idea sounds great! I cant wait to see it finished. Thanks so much Sarah for taking the time to answer some questions.I love catching up with great , quick, inexpensive ideas on sarahs blog. You should definitely follow her at Kippers and Curtains I hope readers can see how easy and affordable creativity can be.  So what are you waiting for? Get out there and forage some art materials! speak soon.x

                                                                           Always -Kass